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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. can — to be able to
  3. net — after costs
  4. bound — certain
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. fine — all right
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. root — the cause
  9. rock — music
  10. root — of a word
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. net — for catching
  13. bound — tied together
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. can — a tin
  17. net — in sport
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. root — of a plant
  20. bound — obliged
  21. can — a tin
  22. rock — a stone
  23. vault — a safe
  24. stand — to bear

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com